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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 1 Hansard (29 April) . . Page.. 157 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

The Government as owner on behalf of the community should make a positive decision about capturing the full commercial value of ACTEW rather than by default allowing the business to stagnate. This approach requires the ACT Government to make a positive decision about the degree of business risk that it is willing to tolerate. Full consideration of all options available would assist this decision.

Mr Speaker, doing nothing is not an option. To do nothing would break my commitment to the people of the ACT to maintain the value of the asset. The people of the ACT and the Territory's future financial viability have too much at stake in ACTEW for narrow ideological positions to compromise decisions on important matters such as this.

The Fay Richwhite report makes it clear that it is now appropriate to examine whether the operational structure of ACTEW has become outdated and whether it is constraining the ability of ACTEW's board, management and staff from retaining the value of the business. As such, the Government has determined to commission a study which will examine the full range of options in the Fay Richwhite report. The Government recognises the importance of consultation in undertaking a successful structural review. The study will be conducted in consultation with ACTEW and all interested parties, to ensure that all relevant factors are taken into account.

Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned.

MR QUINLAN: Mr Speaker, in relation to the tabling of papers, I seek your guidance. Yesterday during question time the Chief Minister committed to the tabling of a couple of papers, and I am sure there is time to do so. One of those papers related to figures on ACTTAB, while deflecting the question I was asking. I was interviewed by a television journalist today who was issued with a copy of those statements. In fact, the journalist had more detail than I had seen before in a so-called private briefing. Is there some rule or protocol that should be observed in terms of a paper that has been committed to be tabled in this place being not yet tabled but being issued to the media?

MR SPEAKER: I am not aware. Chief Minister, was that the case or not the case? The Chief Minister tabled a paper yesterday in the house, which, of course, becomes a public document. But it is not the Chair's place - - -

Mr Quinlan: This is not a tabled paper. It has not been tabled.

Ms Carnell: Yes, I did. Yesterday I tabled the document that I was reading from yesterday and the basic - - -

MR SPEAKER: That is correct.

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